TURNING Kafue into an industrial hub will promote the development of iron and steel industry in the country, National Restoration Party (NAREP) president Elias Chipimo has said.

Mr Chipimo, in an interview, stated that Government’s decision to develop Kafue into a hub of iron and steel production had cheered him because Zambia had the raw material to produce steel.

But, he said, without the deliberate effort and involvement of the local people that possibility remained a pipedream.

He said there must be a deliberate attempt to promote Zambians to own industries because without them being in the hands of citizens the job of developing the country would always fall on the Government.

Mr Chipimo added that the steel and iron idea should not just be in Kafue but every single region because the country was capable of producing something with the right support as Zambians had the ability of owning, driving and developing the nation so that the benefits were seen not just by the few but by many Zambians.

Earlier this week President Lungu, in his statement during the inauguration ceremony, announced that his administration would make Kafue town an iron and steel facility economic zone following the establishment of an iron and steel plant in the area.

He also promised that he would pursue nuclear technology as part of the diversified sustainable energy mix to power Zambia’s economy.

The Head of State also announced that somewhere in the north of the country, in Block 31, investors had begun to explore for oil and gas.

Meanwhile, Mr Chipimo has congratulated President Lungu and his running mate Inonge Wina for their inauguration as it was an important occasion because it was the start of unified approach to development now that the election was over.